St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-18
Place OF
Observation.
slower. Higher.
COL. ALIENS RETURN.

The numerous friends of Col. AL
WARREN ALLEN, late mine host of the
Merchants, will be pleased to learn that
the colonel has returned from his long
vacation on the Pacific coast with twenty
pounds of flesh added to his frame, and
an extension Of at least twenty years to
his life. AS he sat in the GLOBE edi-
torial rooms yesterday and talked with
enthusiasm Of his wanderingS among
the pine groves of Oregon, and his
ciimbingS over the GLACIERS and icebergs
Of Alaska, he looked the very picture
Of health and physical vigor Col
ALLEN is surprised that he should have
lived to be an old man and to have
Travelled so much and yet was in igno-
rance of the grandeur of the scenery to
be seen on a trip from Tacoma to
Alaska. He says that human magma
ton cannot picture it, for it has not en-
tered into the heart of man o conceive
Of the gl0rieS of the view to be had
from aboard the magnificent Pacific
steamer OlYmpian as it giideS in and
out among the thousand islands which
dot the ocean like stars in
armament. The traveller has all
the benefits Of an ocean voyage
without any of its discomforts.
The water is as smooth as glass, and
there is no sea sickness. From the
time the steamer leaves Tacoma on its
entire course of 1900 miles. until the
GlaZier bay is reached the vessel is
not out of sight of land. The towering
4ai,
Pacific coast are constantly in view. as
are some one Of the thousand islands
which lie in the track of the vessels
pathway. Col. ALLEN says that he can
not see why people are crazy to go to
Europe when there is more splendid
scenery along our northwestern Dor
derS. The Alps have nothing compare
be in beauty or grandeur to the Muir
GLACIERS. He saw icebergS 1000 feet
high and three miles across. He says
that the steamer on which he travelled
iSa model Of elegance and comfort, and
set finer table than he used to set at
the old Merchants, which is saying a
good deal. The officers were accommo-
dating and took the ship hundreds of
miles out OF its course to show them OBJ
jectS of interest. Stops were made at
various points and ample time given to
examine the mines and everything else
that as worth seeing. At Fort Wran-
gle they visited the Indian mission
school, under charge of Rev. HALL
YOUNG and wife, who are in
the service Of the Presbyterian
church. \ day and night spent
at Sitka, the Alaskan capital, gave the
party an opportunity to form the ac-
Quaintance of the government Off
Gals, and a iollier set OF pioneers he
never struck in all Of his frontier ex-
perienceS. The government forbids the
importation of alcoholic spirits into
Alaska, and it would be dry times ND
there for the government officers but
foG the fact that gang Of natives who
were tunneling mine near the top of
one of the highest mountains, struck
prehistoric jug which had probably
been concealed there about the time the
morning stars first sang together. The
liquid in it had the consistency of honey,
and shed the aroma Of distilled altar of
roses. a little Of it goes long ways,
and it is never doled out except when
visitors from the states arrive, and then
only in small quantities, the supply is
liable to last until the restrictions placed
by the federal government on the LIQUOR
traffic in the territory is removed. Col.
ALLEN is fully impressed with the belief
that the Alaska Indians are of Japanese
descent. They bear striking likeness
to the JapS across the water, and an ey-
idence that they are entirely distinct
from our Indians is that they are indus
triously inclined. They work in the
mines and at the saw mills, and make
Gag able lab9rofS. The colonel is also
impressed with the belief that the
town of Tacoma is to be
future metropolis. He is confident
that the transeontinental lines of rail
road which are now heading for that
town will make it a great city in few
years, and thinks it is st. Paul's policy
to cultivate friendly relations with Ia
coma. But however correct or incorrect
may be his views concerning Tacoma's
prosperity, one thing is certain and that
is the genial old colonel has had good
time of it OH his trip, and his St. Paul
friends are glad OF it.